Abu Dhabi: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain received a warm welcome from members of the Pravasi Odia community during their visit to Abu Dhabi. The two leaders were felicitated by Indian Ambassador to the UAE Deepak Mittal and representatives of the Odia community, highlighting the strong cultural and social bonds shared by Odias living abroad with their home state.
The interaction centred on strengthening the longstanding social, cultural and industrial relationship between Odisha and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Discussions also explored opportunities to deepen cooperation in areas such as investment, industrial development, tourism, culture and community engagement.
Pravasi Odias Highlight Odisha-UAE Cultural Connection
During the meeting, members of the Odia community spoke about their experiences and activities in Abu Dhabi and Dubai while highlighting their continued connection with Odisha, its language, traditions and cultural identity.
The participation of the community added a cultural dimension to the Chief Minister’s visit, with discussions focusing on how the Odia diaspora can contribute to strengthening Odisha’s international outreach.
Sougata Nayak, President of Odia Samaj Abu Dhabi, expressed pride over the Chief Minister’s visit and said the community was delighted to interact with both the Chief Minister and Industries Minister.
He highlighted the importance of preserving the Odia language and cultural traditions among the diaspora and appreciated the support extended by the Odisha government to Odias living outside the state.
According to community representatives, the interaction also gave Pravasi Odias an opportunity to share their perspectives directly with the state’s leadership and discuss ways of maintaining stronger links with Odisha.
Investment and Industrial Development Take Centre Stage
A major focus of the interaction was the investment roadshow being organised to attract new industrial investments to Odisha and create employment opportunities for people in the state.
Members of the Pravasi Odia community extended their support to the initiative and expressed hope that the Chief Minister’s UAE visit would help generate greater interest among international investors.
The investment outreach is aimed at showcasing Odisha’s industrial potential and encouraging businesses and investors to explore opportunities in the state.
The discussions covered areas including investment, industrial growth, employment generation, tourism and travel, along with possibilities for expanding cooperation between Odisha and the UAE.
Odisha Government Seeks Stronger Global Investment Links
The Chief Minister’s engagement with the diaspora comes as Odisha seeks to strengthen its position as an attractive destination for domestic and international investment.
The Pravasi Odia community can play an important role in connecting the state with businesses, entrepreneurs and investors in the UAE and other international markets.
Amiya Kumar Mishra, President of Odia Samaj Dubai, said the Chief Minister would remain in the UAE for the programmes scheduled from September 9 to 11 before departing on September 12.
He said the discussions during the visit would focus on investment, industrial development, culture and tourism, besides exploring ways to advance these sectors in Odisha.
Community Leaders Join Interaction
The event witnessed participation from several prominent members and representatives of the Odia community.
Former Odia Samaj president Pradeep Kumar Rath and Captain Soumya Ranjan Patnaik were among those present during the interaction.
The gathering reflected the continued engagement between Odisha’s government and the Odia diaspora and underlined the community’s willingness to contribute to the state’s development journey.
Strengthening Odisha’s UAE Outreach
The Abu Dhabi interaction is expected to complement Odisha’s broader efforts to attract investment and establish stronger international business connections.
For the Pravasi Odias, the visit also provided an opportunity to reconnect with the state’s leadership and reinforce their cultural association with Odisha.
With investment, employment, tourism and industrial development emerging as key areas of discussion, the UAE visit is expected to further strengthen the economic and people-to-people relationship between Odisha and the UAE.
